Hello all! My name is William Neely, but I go by Jimmy, and I am a rising sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. I am studying Mechanical Engineering in the Swanson School of Engineering with a minor in Civil Engineering. I am the webmaster for Pitt’s chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as well as an active member of Engineering Student Council and Pitt Aero SAE. I grew up in Fenwick Island, Delaware, where I love going to the beach. I chose to go to college in Pittsburgh because of all the professional and leisure opportunities the city offers.

When I first heard about the Plus3 program, I knew I wanted to go to China. China has an incredibly rich and interesting history older than many nations. I don’t know when I’ll get the opportunity to see so many cultural sites in China again, such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army. This program is also an amazing opportunity to learn how businesses operate in one of the largest and most important economies in the world.

China is an economic power house that plays a large aroll in many industries, especially the aviation industry. One company I want to work for, European airplane manufacturer Airbus, is planning on doubling the number of aircraft it delivers to Chinese airlines by 2020. As China gets richer, more people can afford to fly, leading to a greater demand for flights and thus new aircraft. The things I learn about working with Chinese companies would be vital at Airbus. Airbus has also began manufacturing some components and even the Airbus A320 in China, emphasizing how important it is to know how to work in the country. More generally, Airbus has manufacturing facilities across Europe. The knowledge I gain discovering a foreign country would be hugely beneficial at a company where most of the employees and operations are based overseas. I can’t wait to get to China and explore a whole new world. Beijing, here I come!